🩺 Diseases & Clinical Patterns

gǎnmào · Common Cold

The common cold is an externally contracted condition in Chinese medicine caused by wind pathogen (often combined with cold, heat, or dampness) disrupting the defensive qi (wei qi) of the lung. Typical features include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, cough, headache, aversion to cold or wind, mild fever, and general malaise. It is usually mild and self-limiting, and TCM treatment is based on pattern differentiation such as wind-cold, wind-heat, or summer-dampness.

késou · Cough

Cough is a condition in which the lung fails to diffuse and descend, causing lung qi to counterflow upward, producing sound with or without sputum. Exogenous cough arises from wind-cold, wind-heat, or wind-dryness attacking the lung; internal-injury cough relates to phlegm-dampness, phlegm-heat, liver fire invading the lung, or deficiency of lung yin.

bí qiù · Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (bi qiu) is characterized by sudden, recurrent itchy nose, paroxysmal sneezing, clear watery discharge, and nasal congestion, often with itchy eyes or throat. In TCM the root is commonly deficiency of lung qi, lung-spleen qi deficiency, or insufficiency of kidney yang, with wind-cold invading the nasal orifices as the branch.

xiàobìng · Asthma

Asthma (xiao bing) is an episodic wheezing and breathlessness disorder marked by audible wheezing in the throat, rapid or difficult breathing, and in severe attacks inability to lie flat. Latent phlegm retained in the lung is the underlying root; triggers such as external pathogens, diet, emotions, or fatigue stir the hidden phlegm, which rises with qi and obstructs the airway. Attacks are differentiated as cold or heat wheezing; remission focuses on tonifying the lung, spleen, and kidney.

yānhóu zhǒngtòng · Sore Throat

Sore throat is redness, swelling, and pain of the pharynx or larynx with painful or difficult swallowing, often with dryness, burning, itching, or a foreign-body sensation. In Chinese medicine it is often due to wind-heat invasion, exuberant lung-stomach heat, or yin deficiency of the lung and kidney with deficient fire rising. Acute cases are usually excess heat; chronic recurrent cases are often yin deficiency.

jiǔké · Chronic Cough

Chronic cough lasts more than 8 weeks; common causes are cough-variant asthma, upper-airway cough syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux, eosinophilic bronchitis, smoking, and medications. Chinese medicine holds that "all organs can cause cough"; chronic cough mostly involves the lung, spleen, and kidney, with patterns of phlegm-damp accumulating in the lung, phlegm-heat constraining the lung, and lung-yin deficiency. The cause should be identified first—especially smoking cessation and ruling out asthma, tuberculosis, and tumor—rather than simply suppressing cough.

piāntóutòng · Migraine

Migraine is characterized by recurrent, often one-sided throbbing headache, frequently with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound, sometimes preceded by visual aura. Chinese medicine classifies it as "head wind" and relates it to liver yang ascending, phlegm turbidity disturbing upward, static blood obstructing collaterals, or deficiency of qi and blood, often triggered by wind, emotional stress, diet, or fatigue.

jǐng jiān tòng · Neck & Shoulder Pain

Neck and shoulder pain presents as pain, stiffness, and restricted movement of the neck, shoulders, and upper back, sometimes with aching or numbness in the arm or headache and dizziness. Chinese medicine attributes it to aging-related insufficiency of liver and kidney failing to nourish sinew and bone, prolonged postural strain, or invasion of wind-cold-dampness causing obstruction (bi) of the channels and poor flow of qi and blood.

yāotòng · Chronic Low Back Strain

Chronic low back strain is persistent aching and stiffness of the lower back from prolonged posture, repeated lifting, or inadequately recovered acute strain, with pain worsened by fatigue and relieved by rest and warmth, generally without leg radiating symptoms. Chinese medicine attributes it to obstruction of the bladder and governor vessel meridians by strained sinews and static blood, often on a background of kidney deficiency in older or prolonged cases.

tóufēng · Tension-Type Headache

Tension-type headache is the most common primary headache, presenting as a bilateral, pressing or band-like, mild-to-moderate head pain without nausea, often related to stress, anxiety, poor sleep, neck-shoulder muscle tension, and prolonged screen posture. Chinese medicine classifies chronic recurrent cases as 'head wind' (tou feng), commonly involving liver qi stagnation, upward disturbance of wind-phlegm, or qi-blood deficiency failing to nourish the head and orifices.

yāotòng · Low Back Pain

Low back pain is pain on one or both sides of the lower back, which may radiate to the buttock or leg, with difficulty bending or turning. Chinese medicine holds that "the lower back is the mansion of the kidney"; it is closely related to kidney essence deficiency and kidney yang insufficiency, but also to cold-damp or damp-heat obstruction, or qi stagnation and blood stasis from trauma. Chronic recurrent cases often involve root deficiency with branch excess.

xībì · Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative sinew-bone disorder with knee pain, stiffness, swelling, restricted movement, and crepitus, common in older adults and worse with stairs or after rest. Chinese medicine classifies it as bone bi (gu bi), attributing it to liver-kidney deficiency and insufficient qi and blood that fail to nourish sinew and bone, compounded by wind-cold-damp invasion or strain with stasis.

piān bì · Sciatica (Low Back & Leg Radicular Pain)

Sciatica is radiating, electric, or burning pain along one buttock, posterolateral thigh and lateral calf into the dorsum of the foot, sometimes with numbness or weakness. Chinese medicine groups it under obstructive pain of the low back and leg, from wind-cold-damp, injury or strain causing channel obstruction and qi–blood stasis, or liver–kidney deficiency depriving sinews of nourishment. Patterns include cold-damp or damp-heat obstruction, blood stasis blocking collaterals, and liver–kidney deficiency. Bladder/bowel dysfunction, saddle numbness, or foot drop indicates cauda equina syndrome—an emergency.

lòu jiān fēng · Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)

Frozen shoulder is characterized by progressively worsening shoulder pain with loss of both active and passive range of motion in all directions, often worse at night, and is common in middle-aged/older adults and after prolonged immobilization or with diabetes. Chinese medicine calls it "leaking-shoulder wind" or "fifty-year shoulder," mainly from age-related qi–blood and liver–kidney deficiency plus wind-cold-damp invasion or strain obstructing the sinew channels. Patterns include wind-cold-damp obstruction, qi stagnation with blood stasis, and qi–blood deficiency. Rotator-cuff injury and impingement should be differentiated.

bìzhèng · Rheumatoid Arthritis & Bi Syndrome (Joint Pain)

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by symmetric, erosive swelling and pain of small hand/foot joints, morning stiffness often over one hour, and deformity, with possible systemic involvement. Chinese medicine places it under "bi syndrome," caused by wind, cold, damp, or heat pathogens obstructing channels and impeding qi–blood flow; patterns include wind-cold-damp bi, wind-damp-heat bi, phlegm-stasis obstruction, and liver–kidney deficiency. It requires standard rheumatology treatment with disease-modifying drugs; TCM is adjunctive, not a replacement.

tóu fēng · Chronic Headache

Chronic headache occurs on ≥15 days/month for over 3 months; common forms are tension-type, chronic migraine, and medication-overuse headache, and it may also arise from cervical problems, hypertension, or sleep apnea. Chinese medicine calls it "head wind," distinguishing external contraction from internal injury, with patterns of ascendant liver yang, phlegm turbidity clouding the upper orifices, blood stasis blocking collaterals, and qi–blood deficiency. A new "thunderclap" severe headache or one with neurological signs requires emergency evaluation for secondary causes.

pǐmǎn · Functional Dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia (pi man) presents as epigastric stuffiness and fullness without a palpable mass or tenderness, often with postprandial fullness, early satiety, belching, and poor appetite. It commonly arises from dietary irregularity, emotional imbalance, or fatigue damaging the spleen, causing qi stagnation in the middle burner and dysfunction of the spleen-stomach ascending-descending axis, closely linked to the liver, spleen, and stomach.

wèiwǎntòng · Epigastric Pain (Gastritis)

Epigastric pain (wei wan tong) is pain in the upper abdomen near the stomach, often with bloating, belching, acid regurgitation, nausea, and poor appetite. Common TCM causes include cold invading the stomach, dietary injury, liver qi invading the stomach, damp-heat obstruction, spleen-stomach deficiency cold, and insufficiency of stomach yin. The core mechanism is stagnation of stomach qi causing pain from obstruction, or the stomach losing nourishment causing pain from deficiency.

xiétòng · Chronic Cholecystitis (Gallbladder Disease)

Chronic cholecystitis is long-standing inflammation of the gallbladder, most often associated with gallstones, causing recurrent right-upper abdominal or right-hypochondriac fullness and pain after fatty or large meals, belching, nausea, and intolerance of greasy food; pain may radiate to the right shoulder or back. Chinese medicine treats it under 'hypochondriac pain' (xie tong), with patterns of liver-gallbladder damp-heat, liver qi stagnation, and static blood obstructing the collaterals. Chinese care is adjunctive; gallstones, biliary obstruction, and acute attacks require medical evaluation.

tǔsuān · Acid Reflux (GERD)

Acid regurgitation (GERD) involves stomach acid rising with retrosternal burning (heartburn), sour regurgitation, belching, and sometimes discomfort on swallowing, often worse after meals, lying down, or bending. Chinese medicine relates it to liver qi invading the stomach, liver-stomach stagnant heat, spleen-stomach deficiency cold, and failure of stomach qi to descend with upward counterflow; chronic cases may involve phlegm or stasis.

chángyù · Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (chang yu) is a common functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort with altered bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or alternating), relieved after defecation. It relates to emotional imbalance, dietary irregularity, and constitutional weakness; located in the intestine but governed mainly by liver and spleen. The core mechanism is liver constraint with spleen deficiency and impaired large-intestine conveyance, which may involve the kidney over time.

biànmì · Constipation

Constipation is infrequent, difficult, or incomplete passage of dry hard stools. In Chinese medicine it results from internal binding of dryness-heat, qi stagnation, qi deficiency with weak conveyance, blood deficiency leaving the intestine unmoistened, or yang deficiency with congealing yin-cold. It is divided into excess constipation (heat, qi) and deficiency constipation (qi, blood, yang).

mànxìng xièxiè · Chronic Diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea is increased frequency of loose stools lasting more than two months. It may occur in IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption, post-infectious states, lactose intolerance, or tumors. Chinese medicine holds that diarrhea is rooted in the spleen and stomach, also involving the liver and kidney, with patterns of spleen deficiency with damp excess, liver constraint with spleen deficiency, and spleen–kidney yang deficiency. Blood in stool, weight loss, nocturnal diarrhea, or fever require investigation of the cause rather than blanket "spleen tonification."

zhì · Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are soft cushions formed by dilation and engorgement of venous plexuses under the distal rectal and anal-canal lining, causing bleeding, prolapse, pain/swelling, and itching; they are internal, external, or mixed. Chinese medicine attributes them to organ weakness, prolonged standing/sitting, straining from constipation, spicy food, or damp-heat pouring downward causing qi–blood stasis, with patterns of wind injuring the intestinal collaterals, damp-heat, and spleen deficiency with qi collapse. Blood in stool must first rule out colorectal cancer and other serious disease.

xuànyūn · High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Hypertension is a common chronic condition characterized by persistently elevated arterial blood pressure; it may be asymptomatic or cause dizziness, head fullness, headache, facial flushing, red eyes, tinnitus, insomnia, or palpitations. Chinese medicine groups it under dizziness and headache related to liver yang, arising from emotional or dietary imbalance, aging, and liver-kidney yin-yang disharmony; common patterns include liver yang ascending, phlegm-damp obstruction, liver-kidney yin deficiency, and static blood. TCM may serve as adjunctive support and does not replace standard antihypertensive treatment.

xiāokě · Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disease of chronic hyperglycemia due to insufficient insulin action; classic features are polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, weight loss, and fatigue, though early type 2 is often asymptomatic. Chinese medicine classifies it as wasting-thirst (xiao ke), with yin deficiency and dryness-heat as the core mechanism involving the lung, stomach, and kidney (upper, middle, and lower xiao); over time qi and yin are both damaged and stasis or dampness may appear. TCM is adjunctive and never replaces glucose-lowering medication or monitoring.

yǐngbìng · Thyroid Nodules

Thyroid nodules are discrete lumps within the thyroid gland in the front of the neck; most are benign and cause no symptoms, being found on ultrasound or palpation, though some cause a pressure sensation, hoarseness, swallowing discomfort, or thyroid dysfunction. Chinese medicine calls this 'ying disease' (ying bing), relating it mostly to qi stagnation and congealed phlegm, prolonged phlegm binding with static blood, or liver fire hyperactivity; management supports, but does not replace, ultrasound and laboratory evaluation.

zhīzhuó · High Cholesterol (Dyslipidemia)

Dyslipidemia means elevated cholesterol or triglycerides, or low HDL, usually without symptoms; over time it promotes atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Chinese medicine conceptualizes it as lipid turbidity and phlegm-dampness linked to impaired spleen movement, liver coursing, and kidney qi transformation, plus poor diet and sedentary lifestyle. Patterns include internal phlegm-damp, spleen deficiency with abundant dampness, qi stagnation with blood stasis, and liver-kidney yin deficiency; diet and exercise are the foundation.

féipàng · Overweight & Obesity

Simple obesity is excessive fat accumulation from energy intake exceeding expenditure, with BMI above standard and no specific endocrine cause. Chinese medicine links it to overeating rich sweet foods, sedentary habits, impaired spleen movement with internal retention of phlegm-damp and lipid turbidity, stomach heat with damp obstruction, liver constraint, or spleen-kidney yang deficiency. Sustainable diet and exercise are central; acupuncture and ear acupressure may assist.

tòngfēng · Gout

Gout is a metabolic joint disease from elevated uric acid with urate crystal deposition; acute attacks cause sudden redness, swelling, heat, and severe pain, often of the big-toe joint at night; recurrent attacks can produce tophi, joint damage, and kidney stones. Chinese medicine classifies it under bi syndrome ("white-tiger joint wind"): acute attacks are usually damp-heat binding, while chronic/intercritical phases show spleen deficiency with damp turbidity, phlegm-stasis obstruction, or liver-kidney insufficiency. Acute gout requires standard anti-inflammatory and urate-lowering care; TCM is adjunctive.

zhīfáng gān · Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)

Fatty liver (metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease) is excess fat accumulation in liver cells, often clustering with obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Early disease is often asymptomatic or causes fatigue and right-rib discomfort. TCM groups it under rib pain and liver accumulation, with liver constraint–spleen deficiency, phlegm-damp obstruction, damp-heat binding, and phlegm-stasis patterns. Weight reduction through lifestyle is the most effective first-line measure; liver enzymes and fibrosis must be monitored—supportive care does not replace this.

jiǎzhuàngxiàn gōngnéng jiǎntuì zhèng · Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a systemic low-metabolic state from insufficient thyroid hormone production, commonly causing cold intolerance, fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, somnolence, poor memory, menstrual irregularity, and edema. Chinese medicine groups it under deficiency-taxation, goiter disease, and edema, mainly spleen–kidney yang deficiency and qi–blood or qi–yin deficiency. Diagnosis relies on TSH/FT4 and most patients need standard thyroid-hormone replacement; TCM is adjunctive and replacement medication must not be stopped on one's own.

bùmèi · Insomnia

Insomnia (bu mei) is difficulty obtaining normal sleep—trouble falling asleep, light or fragmented sleep, early-morning waking with inability to return to sleep, or staying awake all night—often with dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, and poor memory. It results from emotional strain, dietary irregularity, imbalance of work and rest, or chronic deficiency that either deprives the heart spirit of nourishment or disturbs it, involving the heart, liver, spleen, kidney, and insufficiency of yin-blood.

yùzhèng · Anxiety

Anxiety presents with persistent or episodic worry and nervousness, restlessness, palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, muscle tension, and disturbed sleep. Chinese medicine groups it under constraint syndrome (yu zheng), mainly from emotional frustration causing the liver to lose its coursing function with qi stagnation; over time it damages the heart and spleen, deprives the heart spirit of nourishment, or transforms to fire that injures yin, closely involving the liver, heart, spleen, and kidney. TCM support works best alongside lifestyle and psychological care.

xūláo · Fatigue & Low Energy

Chronic fatigue is a state of persistent or recurrent exhaustion not fully relieved by rest, with reduced energy, unrefreshing sleep, poor memory, muscle aches, and post-exertion malaise. Chinese medicine classifies it under deficiency taxation (xu lao), arising from constitutional weakness, imbalance of work and rest, prolonged illness, dietary irregularity, or excessive emotions that cause deficiency of qi, blood, yin, and yang and dysfunction of the organs—especially the spleen, kidney, heart, and liver.

yùzhèng · Depressive State

A depressive state is centered on persistent low mood, loss of interest, reduced energy, changes in sleep and appetite, poor concentration, self-blame, and hopelessness lasting two or more weeks and impairing function. Chinese medicine groups it under constraint syndrome and related entities, mainly from emotional injury with loss of liver coursing, gradually affecting the heart and spleen; patterns include liver qi stagnation, heart–spleen deficiency, and stagnant qi transforming to fire. Moderate-to-severe depression or self-harm thoughts require standard psychiatric/psychological care; TCM and lifestyle are adjuncts, not substitutes.

jīngjì · Panic Disorder

Jingji (panic disorder) is characterized by paroxysmal palpitations, restlessness, terror, and a sense of impending death. The disease is located in the heart and closely related to the liver, gallbladder, spleen, and kidney. Its causes include emotional dysregulation and fright damaging the spirit, or chronic illness with qi deficiency of the heart and gallbladder, or internal harassment by phlegm-heat and yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity. The basic pathogenesis is disturbed heart-spirit, malnourishment of the heart vessels, or pathogenic factors harassing the heart. Pattern differentiation distinguishes deficiency and excess: deficiency patterns include qi deficiency of heart and gallbladder, dual deficiency of heart and spleen, and yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity; excess patterns include internal harassment by phlegm-heat and liver depression transforming into fire. Treatment follows the general principle of calming the heart and tranquilizing the spirit; for deficiency, tonify the heart and spleen and benefit qi and yin; for excess, clear heat and resolve phlegm, soothe the liver and drain fire.

qiǎngpòzhèng · OCD (Adjunct)

In TCM, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) falls under the categories of 'yu zheng' (depression syndrome), 'zang zao' (visceral agitation), and 'jing ji' (palpitations and fear). It is characterized by recurrent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. The disease is located in the brain and involves the heart, liver, spleen, and kidney. The basic pathogenesis includes qi stagnation, phlegm-fire harassing the spirit, dual deficiency of heart and spleen, or kidney deficiency with liver hyperactivity, leading to malnourishment of the spirit or disturbance of the shen ji. Clinically, it is often triggered by emotional frustration and excessive rumination, manifesting as repeated checking, washing, counting, or compulsive brooding, accompanied by anxiety, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, chest oppression with sighing, and poor appetite. TCM adjunctive treatment follows the principles of soothing the liver and relieving depression, transforming phlegm and clearing heat, nourishing the heart and calming the spirit, and fortifying the spleen and supplementing the kidney. Combined with acupuncture, tuina, and emotional counseling, it can alleviate symptoms, improve comorbid anxiety and depression, and enhance quality of life. However, it must be coordinated with standard psychiatric care and cannot replace anti-obsessional medication and psychotherapy.

shèjiāo kǒngjù · Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder falls under the TCM categories of 'yu zheng' (depression syndrome), 'jing ji' (palpitations due to fright), and 'zheng chong'. It is commonly caused by internal damage from emotional stress and excessive worry, leading to liver failing to free-flow, qi deficiency of heart and gallbladder, and insufficiency of spleen and kidney. The disease is located in the brain and involves the heart, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and kidney. Clinically it presents with tension in social situations, facial flushing, sweating, palpitations, hand tremor, and avoidance of social contact. The key pathogenesis is qi stagnation, malnourishment of the heart spirit, or internal harassment by phlegm-heat and gallbladder deficiency with phlegm timidity. Pattern differentiation should distinguish excess and deficiency: for excess, soothe the liver and relieve depression, clear heat and transform phlegm; for deficiency, boost qi and nourish blood, warm the gallbladder and calm the heart.

zàoyù · Bipolar Disorder (Adjunct)

Bipolar disorder in TCM falls under the categories of 'dian kuang' (mania and withdrawal) and 'yu zheng' (depression syndrome), characterized by alternating episodes of elevated and depressed mood. The disease is located in the brain and involves the heart, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and kidney. The basic pathogenesis is qi stagnation, internal harassment by phlegm-fire, and yin-yang disharmony. The manic phase is mostly due to phlegm-fire disturbing the heart and liver-fire hyperactivity, manifesting as irritability, pressured speech, and insomnia; the depressive phase is mostly due to heart-spleen deficiency and liver qi stagnation, manifesting as low mood, fatigue, and diminished interest. Clinical practice requires staged pattern differentiation: the manic phase is treated mainly by clearing the heart and draining fire, resolving phlegm and opening the orifices; the depressive phase by soothing the liver and relieving depression, strengthening the spleen and nourishing the heart, with attention to harmonizing yin and yang and calming the spirit.

tòngjīng · Period Pain (Dysmenorrhea)

Dysmenorrhea is cyclical lower-abdominal pain during or around menstruation that may radiate to the lower back, sometimes severe enough to cause fainting, often with pallor, cold sweat, or nausea. Chinese medicine locates it in the thoroughfare and conception vessels and the uterus, centered on qi and blood: emotional constraint causes qi stagnation and blood stasis, while cold exposure during menses causes cold congelation and stasis; deficiency pain arises from weak qi and blood failing to nourish the uterine vessels. Excess patterns reflect "pain from obstruction," deficiency patterns "pain from lack of nourishment."

yuèjīng bùtiáo · Irregular Menstruation

Irregular menstruation covers abnormalities of cycle, duration, volume, color, and quality—early, late, or unpredictable periods, excessive or scant bleeding, or prolonged menses. Chinese medicine attributes it mainly to dysfunction of the liver, spleen, and kidney with failure to regulate qi and blood in the thoroughfare and conception vessels, related to emotions, diet, fatigue, cold, and constitution; common patterns are liver constraint, spleen deficiency, kidney deficiency, blood heat, blood deficiency, and stasis.

rǔpì · Benign Breast Lumps (Fibrocystic Changes)

Benign breast lumps, often fibrocystic changes, are common among women of reproductive and premenopausal age; both breasts may show diffuse nodules, cords, or tenderness that fluctuates with the menstrual cycle, usually worsening before menstruation and easing afterward. Chinese medicine names this 'ru pi' and attributes it mainly to liver qi stagnation with congealed phlegm, or to disharmony of the chong and ren vessels; clinical breast examination and imaging remain necessary to exclude other disease.

fùrénfùtòng · Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease is long-standing inflammation of the female upper genital tract (uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and surrounding tissues), often following infection, causing persistent lower abdominal or pelvic pain, lumbosacral ache, abnormal vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse, and irregular menstruation, with a risk of infertility or ectopic pregnancy. Chinese medicine treats it under 'woman's abdominal pain' and 'discharge disease' (dai xia), with patterns of damp-heat and stasis, spleen deficiency with dampness, and qi stagnation with blood stasis.

juéjīng qiánhòu zhūzhèng · Menopause Symptoms

Around menopause, kidney qi gradually declines and the thoroughfare and conception vessels weaken, upsetting yin-yang balance and producing menstrual irregularity, hot flushes and sweating, five-center heat, dizziness and tinnitus, palpitations and insomnia, irritability or low mood, weak aching lower back and knees, and skin-tingling. Chinese medicine centers on kidney deficiency—predominantly kidney yin or yang deficiency, or both—often combined with ascending liver yang, non-interaction of heart and kidney, or liver constraint with spleen deficiency.

duō náng luǎncháo zōnghézhēng · Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome is marked by infrequent or absent periods, anovulation, hyperandrogenism (acne, hirsutism, hair loss), polycystic ovaries, and metabolic problems (insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia), and is a common cause of infertility. Chinese medicine groups it under delayed menstruation, amenorrhea, infertility, and abdominal masses, with patterns of kidney deficiency, phlegm-damp obstruction, qi stagnation with blood stasis, and damp-heat in the liver channel. Lifestyle is first-line; infertility and metabolic problems need standard medical care.

bùyùnzhèng · Female Infertility

Female infertility is the failure to conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse (six months if age 35 or older). Causes include ovulatory disorders, tubal factors, the uterine lining, age, and male factors. Chinese medicine recognizes patterns of kidney deficiency, liver qi constraint, phlegm-damp obstruction, and stasis in the uterus. TCM may improve cycles and general health, but a standard infertility workup should come first, and the male partner should be evaluated simultaneously.

bóqǐ gōngnéng zhàng'ài · Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Erectile dysfunction is the persistent inability to attain or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual activity, usually for at least three months. Chinese medicine calls it "yang wei" and relates it closely to the liver, kidney, heart, and spleen, with common patterns such as declining life-gate fire, heart–spleen deficiency, liver qi stagnation, and damp-heat pouring downward. TCM support may be part of a broader plan, but diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hormonal disorders, and medication effects should first be medically evaluated.

zǎoxiè · Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation means ejaculation always or nearly always occurs within about one minute of penetration, or there is a persistent lack of control causing distress and avoidance of intimacy. Chinese medicine attributes it mainly to insecure kidney qi, yin deficiency with effulgent fire, heart–spleen deficiency, or damp-heat in the liver channel. Behavioral training, psychological adjustment, and partner cooperation are central, with TCM as an adjunct.

xìngyù dīxià · Reduced Libido (Low Sex Drive)

Reduced libido is a persistent decrease in interest in sexual activity, sexual fantasy, and initiation that causes distress. TCM addresses it mainly through kidney deficiency (yang or yin), liver qi stagnation, and heart–spleen deficiency, and it is linked to mood, sleep, stress, hormones, and chronic illness. Depression/anxiety, sleep deprivation, thyroid or sex-hormone disorders, chronic disease, and medications should first be ruled out.

mànxìng qiánlièxiàn yán / qiánlièxiàn zēngshēng · Chronic Prostatitis & Prostate Enlargement

Chronic prostatitis commonly causes pelvic-area heaviness or pain, urinary frequency/urgency, discomfort on urination, and urethral discharge; benign prostatic enlargement, more common in older men, causes nocturia, a weak stream, straining, and incomplete emptying. Chinese medicine places them under "essence turbidity," "fatigue strangury," and "retention of urine," with patterns of damp-heat pouring downward, qi stagnation with blood stasis, and spleen–kidney deficiency. Suspected acute infection, urinary retention, or prostate cancer requires medical assessment.

shīchuāng · Eczema

Eczema (shi chuang) is a common allergic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by polymorphic, often symmetric, intensely itchy, recurrent lesions that may weep; chronic stages show thickened, rough, scaly skin. Chinese medicine attributes it to constitutional sensitivity and dietary irregularity causing the spleen to fail in movement with internal damp-heat, combined with wind invading and lodging in the skin; chronic disease leads to blood deficiency with wind-dryness and loss of skin nourishment.

fěncì · Acne

Acne is chronic inflammation of the pilosebaceous unit presenting as comedones, papules, pustules, and nodules on the face, chest, and back with oily skin, common in adolescence but often recurrent in adult women. Chinese medicine calls it lung-wind comedones, arising from wind-heat of the lung channel, damp-heat of the stomach and intestine, phlegm-damp stasis, liver constraint transforming to fire, or disharmony of the thoroughfare/conception vessels, with heat-toxin, phlegm, and stasis lodged in the skin.

qīchuāng · Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin reaction at a site of contact with an irritant or allergen (such as plants, metals, cosmetics, detergents, or medicines), presenting with sharply demarcated erythema, papules, vesicles, swelling, itching, or burning; allergic reactions may recur at lower exposure. In Chinese medicine acute cases are mostly a toxic-heat or damp-heat pattern with external evil invading the skin, while recurrent cases involve blood-heat or lingering wind-dampness.

sìwānfēng · Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing, intensely itchy inflammatory skin disease, often beginning in infancy and associated with a personal or family history of allergy, asthma, or allergic rhinitis. It features dry skin and eczematous lesions, classically in the body folds. Chinese medicine attributes it mostly to fetal latent heat, spleen deficiency with internal dampness, and heart-fire hyperactivity in the acute phase, and to blood deficiency with wind-dryness in the chronic phase.

shéchuànchuāng · Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Shingles is reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, causing a unilateral, band-like, painful burning rash with clustered vesicles on a red base along a nerve distribution, often preceded by tingling or pain; after the rash heals, some people, especially older adults, develop prolonged postherpetic neuralgia. Chinese medicine names it 'snaking string sore' (she chuan chuang), attributing the acute phase to liver-gallbladder damp-heat or toxic heat, some cases to spleen dampness, and residual pain to qi stagnation with blood stasis. Antiviral treatment is most effective when started within about 72 hours.

báibōfēng · Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a chronic acquired condition in which pigment-producing cells are lost, causing well-defined milky-white patches on the skin, sometimes with whitening of hair; it is not contagious, and course and response to treatment vary greatly between individuals. Chinese medicine names it 'bai bo feng' and relates it mainly to liver qi stagnation with blood stasis and external wind, or to liver-kidney insufficiency with deficient blood failing to nourish the skin. Treatment generally requires patience and dermatological supervision; Chinese approaches are adjunctive and outcomes are not guaranteed.

yóufēng · Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an immune-related, non-scarring form of hair loss producing sudden, well-defined round or oval smooth bald patches on the scalp, sometimes triggered by stress, illness, or pregnancy; most cases regrow, but the course is unpredictable and may recur or become extensive. Chinese medicine names it 'you feng' (oily wind), relating acute patches to blood deficiency generating wind with failure to nourish hair, and prolonged or extensive loss to liver-kidney insufficiency. Recovery takes months and should be followed with dermatology.

líhēibān · Melasma

Melasma is a common acquired pigmentation disorder showing symmetric light- to dark-brown patches, mainly on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip, and nose; it is strongly associated with sun exposure, genetic predisposition, pregnancy, oral contraceptives or hormone therapy, and darker skin types, and often worsens in summer. Chinese medicine names it 'li hei ban', attributing it mainly to liver qi stagnation with blood stasis or to liver-kidney yin deficiency with poor facial nourishment. Strict photoprotection is central; lightening is gradual and recurrence is common.

tuōfà · Hair Loss

Hair loss is abnormal or excessive shedding with progressive thinning, recession, or patchy alopecia (oil-wind/alopecia areata), sometimes with an oily, itchy, flaky scalp or fatigue, insomnia, and stress. Chinese medicine holds that "hair is the surplus of blood" and "the kidney's bloom is in the hair," relating loss to liver-kidney insufficiency, deficiency of essence and blood, blood heat with wind-dryness, damp-heat steaming upward, qi stagnation and stasis, and emotional strain or overwork.

yǐnzhěn · Urticaria (Hives)

Urticaria is characterized by recurrent itchy wheals that appear anywhere and come and go rapidly. Chinese medicine calls it "hidden rashes," usually from constitutional sensitivity, wind-cold or wind-heat, dietary triggers, or qi–blood deficiency causing wind to lodge in the skin. Patterns include wind-cold or wind-heat fettering the exterior, stomach–intestinal damp-heat, and qi–blood deficiency. Throat tightness, wheezing, or swelling of the face/lips/tongue signals anaphylaxis and requires immediate emergency care.

báibǐ · Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic relapsing immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease characterized by well-demarcated red plaques with silvery scales and pinpoint bleeding on scraping, sometimes with itching, nail changes, and painful swollen joints. Chinese medicine calls it "white bi" or "pine-bark lichen," often from constitutional blood heat triggered by external pathogens, emotions, or diet, with blood-heat, blood-dryness, blood-stasis, and fire-toxin patterns. Treatment aims at control and remission under dermatology care; psoriatic arthritis must be watched for.

xū fà zǎo bái · Premature Graying of Hair

Premature graying is graying of hair at an unusually early age, linked to genetics, stress, poor sleep, nutritional deficiencies (vitamin B12, iron, copper, zinc), thyroid disease, or autoimmune vitiligo. Chinese medicine holds that "hair is the surplus of blood" and "the kidney's bloom is in the hair," attributing it mainly to liver–kidney insufficiency, qi–blood deficiency, and liver qi stagnation. Supportive care improves general health but cannot reverse genetic graying; treatable causes should first be excluded.

xuànyūn · Dizziness & Vertigo

Dizziness and vertigo range from mild light-headedness that settles with eyes closed to a spinning, boat-like sensation with inability to stand, nausea, vomiting, sweating, or even fainting. Chinese medicine locates it in the head orifices and links it to dysfunction of the liver, spleen, and kidney. Excess mechanisms include liver yang ascending, phlegm turbidity obstructing the middle, and static blood blocking collaterals; deficiency mechanisms include qi-blood insufficiency and kidney essence deficiency failing to fill the sea of marrow.

ěrmíng · Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the perception of sound—ringing, buzzing, or rushing—without an external source, often with hearing loss, dizziness, insomnia, or irritability. Chinese medicine distinguishes excess from deficiency: excess results from emotion transforming to fire, exuberant gallbladder-liver fire, or phlegm-fire disturbing the ear upward; deficiency arises from kidney essence insufficiency with inadequate sea of marrow, or spleen-stomach weakness with qi and blood failing to rise and nourish the ear.

bízhì · Chronic Rhinitis

Chronic rhinitis is persistent inflammation of the nasal mucosa with intermittent or persistent nasal congestion, clear or mucus discharge, sneezing, and reduced smell, lasting over 12 weeks; it may be allergic or non-allergic. Chinese medicine calls it 'bi zhi', commonly due to lung qi deficiency with insecurity of the defensive exterior and recurrent wind-cold, or spleen-lung qi deficiency generating dampness, with qi and blood stagnation in the nasal orifices in long cases.

mànxìng bíyuān · Chronic Rhinosinusitis (Sinusitis)

Chronic rhinosinusitis causes nasal obstruction, mucopurulent discharge, facial pressure or pain, and reduced smell for more than 12 weeks, often from persistent acute infection, allergy, or anatomical factors. Chinese medicine calls it "deep nasal discharge," with patterns of wind-heat in the lung channel, gallbladder heat, spleen–stomach damp-heat, and lung–spleen qi deficiency. Recurrent purulent discharge, fever, facial swelling, or eye/vision problems require medical care; TCM support does not replace antibiotics when indicated or specialist treatment.